Our latest Water Quality Report reveals that sewage is being dumped into our rivers and seas on a scale that defies belief—and the people who should be stopping it are cashing in instead.

Surfers Against Sewage Quality Report 2025 www.sas.org.uk (Extract)

[See separate post on how “industry leader”, South West Water, was rewarded £6.7m for failure.]

While private water companies handed £1.2 billion to shareholders, they also dumped 4.7 million hours of sewage into our waterways in 2024. That’s 592,478 spills in just one year.

At the same time, water bills are rising, targets are being missed, and public trust is circling the drain. Over a quarter of adults in England are so fed up, they’ve considered not paying their water bills.

Our latest Water Quality Report lays it all bare. Read the report

Water companies are failing

Our report reveals broken promises and missed pollution targets. Billions for shareholders, while customers pay more for less. Public health at risk, with zero accountability. And a total lack of transparency from those in charge.

England

In 2024, water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency. This marks the highest number in a decade, despite promises to clean up their act.

The water industry was meant to reduce pollution by 40%. Instead? We’ve seen a 30% increase.

…….Results for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland omitted in this extract……

People are getting sick

Our Safer Seas & Rivers Service App received 1,853 illness reports from water users in 2024 alone—that’s five people a day getting sick after entering polluted water.

• 331 people saw a doctor
• 79% were told their illness was caused by sewage
• From gastro bugs to chest infections, even hospitalisations and heart surgery—the human cost is staggering.

Real people. Real impacts.

• Suzi, a sea swimmer from Bognor Regis, ended up in critical care and needed open-heart surgery after falling seriously ill.
• Charlie, an Ironman athlete, was left isolated and unable to train for months after collapsing from a virus caught while swimming.
• Shelley, a carer from Scotland, was hospitalised for 5 days after contracting a diarrheal disease from contaminated water, impacting her ability to care for her son.
• Martyn, a swimmer from Pembrokeshire, had his eye swell and close up after swimming at his local beach. He needed painkillers and antibiotics and was left unable to work or drive.
• Ben is the director and head coach at Surfability in Swansea, which runs adaptive surf sessions for people with additional needs. He’s been forced to cancel many surf lessons due to poor water quality, reducing access to the healing power of the water for many people.

These stories are just a few of thousands. Read more shocking stories in the report.

See more stories

We’re calling for radical reform

We simply cannot trust the UK’s water industry in its current state. Our Water Quality Report calls for urgent and transformational reform of the privatised water industry. It’s time to:

✅ Put people and planet before profit

✅ Give local voices a say in how water is managed

✅ Enforce the law—no more pollution without consequence

✅ End profit from pollution—once and for all

NOW is our opportunity for real change. The Independent Commission will be finalising its recommendations for water industry reform in England and Wales in May. This is our chance to be heard.